Washable hand bag cover



March 12, 1935. R LOBEL 1,994,001

WASHABLE HAND BAG COVER Filed Dec. 3, 1954 Patented Mar. 12, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT oF-FICE Friedmanporation o New York Application December3,

bel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a cor- 1934, Serial No. 755,659

4 Claims. (Cl. 15o-28) This invention relates to handbag covers, and hasparticular reference to handling covers of the removable washable type.

One object of the invention is to provide a 5 handbag cover having animproved construction such that it can be readily opened up to a greaterdegree than heretofore possible to facilitate the washing andparticularly the ironing of the cover, and the latter being readilyapplied to and removable from the handbag.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device including afoundation bag and cover together with improved meansfor removablyinterengaging the same and improved means to maintain a snug, uniformfitting relationship therebetween.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a removablewashable cover having stiffening elements removably associated in animproved manner with a closed end of the cover; and the stiffeningelements being desirably so arranged relative to the cover and fastenerportions thereof, as to materially facilitate washing and ironing of thecover by removal of obstructions upon withdrawing the stiiener elementsfrom the cover.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a devicesuch as a handbag cover having relatively few and simple parts, andwhich is inexpensive to manufacture, adapted for quantity production,adapted for rapid and convenient operation, durable, reliable andeicient in use, and neat, compact, and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds. K

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in theirpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated bythe same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation showing a device embodying theinvention.'

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the foundation bag.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view takenon the line 4 4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the cover alone, with partsremoved to clearly show the construction.

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the cover at the open end thereof.

t;1;ig. is a fragmentary plan view of a' stiiener s r p.

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view in a plane of 10 the arrangement of theinterlacing.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenal1 of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and. thesame structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less thanthe Whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, that the same may be incorporated in several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merelyas showing the preferred embodiments of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a device embodying theinvention. The same may include a foundation bag 11 and a cover 12enclosing the same. The foundation bag provides any conventional pocket13 by means of walls 14, ,having an internal lining 15, the walls beinginterconnected along their bottoms and ends and being separate of eachother at the top. The latter may be releasably closed by any convenientclosure, such. as a slide fastener 16, having a slide 17. The slidefastener desirably comprises hooks of a composition material colored toconform to that of the device 10, said hooks being mounted on the usualflexible strips 18 that may be connected to the lining or other wallstructure as shown at 19.

'Ihe side walls of the foundation bag may have one or more holes, suchas 20, reenforced by eyelets 21. Each of these eyelets is provided in acorner portion of each side wall adjacent to an end of the bag and belowthe slide fastener but in relative proximity thereto, so that the slidefastener reenforces the bag portion at the region of the eyelets. Alsoeach side lwall is provided with a plurality of spaced snap fastenersockets in proximity to the slide fastener and spaced therealong. Theeyelets 21 and sockets 22 may be backed by the lining as shown in Fig.4. In other respects the foundation bag 11 is conventional. If the bagis of the type having a closure ap, the cover hereinafter described mayhave a corresponding flap to overlie the same.

The cover 12 may consist of two walls 23, 24, 55

desirably consisting of a single piece of a washable fabric of anysuitable character. In any case, these walls are permanentlyinterconnected along-one end 25 of the cover, and along the bottom 26thereof. The walls are separate of each other at the top 27 of the coverand at the opposite end 28 thereof. 'Ihe opening at the top of the covermaybe regarded as permanently open, except in so far as it may be closedby the foundation bag, and the end 28 may be releasably closable by anysuitable fastening arrangement.

It will be seen that the cover 12 is of greater length than thefoundation bag so as to provide end portions 29 that project beyond acorrespondin'g end of the bag. These end portions may be suitably lappedinward at 30, and stitched at 31 for reenforcement. A series of spacedholes 32 is formed in the end portion of each\wa1l, and said holes beingreenforced by eyelets 33. The lowermost of the eyelets 33 is near thebottom of the cover, and the uppermost near the top thereof, in theextreme corner, and in line with holes and eyelets 34, 35, respectively,for each wall, arranged to line with the corresponding eyelets 21 in theadjacent corner of the foundation bag.

Extending marginally along the top opening of the cover is an internalhem portion 36 of tubular form secured by stitching 3'7. This hemportion serves as a reenforcement for the cover, affords additional bodythereto, and strengthens the securement of the eyelets 35.

Desirably stiffener strips such as 38 are removably inserted in the hemportions to assure continuoiis snug engagement of the cover walls withthe foundation bag. Such strips may consist of thin sheet metal ofpliable or resilient character, or any other ln'nd of boning material.To receive the strips 38, slots or cut outs 39 are formed in the tubularportions adjacent tb the closed end of the cover. With the strips inplace, snap fastener heads 40, will, upon releasable engagement withtheir corresponding sockets 22, maintain the cover evenly against thefoundationbag at the top of the cover. v

Preferably the head elements 40 may be permanently secured to thestiiener strips 38, and holes 41 formed in the inner walls of thetubular portions 36, for passage of the heads therethrough intoengagement with the sockets 22 as stated. Hence the stiifener strips aredirectly rigidly secured to the foundation bag, and hold the cover withincreased reliability against any slipping relative to the bag. Further,if the strips 38 are removed for washing of the cover, the heads 40 willnot be present to interfere with the ironing operation. 'I'he cover mustbe ironed smooth.

especially near the top thereof, as this is a conspicuous part of thecover. By placing the heads 40 at equal distances from the ends of thestrips 38, the latter can be variously inserted, and the heads willreadily register with the holes 41.

For securing the cover on a handbag, a flexible or tension element, suchas a cord or braid 42, desirably of a contrasting color with the cover12, is successively passed through the different registering eyelets 33of the opposed cover walls, beginning at the lowermost eyelets, eachside of the element 42 forming a series of reverse bends, and thedifferent sides of the elements describing a loop formation as shown inFig. 10 by the crossing of the element at the eyelets as indicated at43. The length of each loop 44 is equal to the distance between thesuccessive eyelets 33. Af ter passing through the uppermost eyelets 33,one side 45 of the flexible element 42 is passed through both sets ofregistering eyelets. including eyelets 21 in the foundation bag, andeyelets 35 in the cover, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the ends oi.'the element are tied in a releasable, neat and ornamental knot 46. l

'Ihe manner of using the invention will now be clearly apparent. Theinvention is made up and sold as a unit as shown in Fig. 1. Access tothe pocket 13 is had by opening the slide fastener 16, and the cover 12is not affected by such operation. If the cover becomes soiled andrequires washing, the knot 46` is opened and the element 42 removed.Then the snap fasteners 22, 40 are disengaged for removal ofthe cover.Finally, the cover is opened up fully to permit the strips 38 to beremoved through the openings 39, the heads 40 being thus easilydisengaged from the holes 41. The ironing of the cover is especiallyconvenient. because the iron can be easily inserted into the cover, thelatter being open along two adjacent l sides, so that the cover can beironed on the inside as well as on the outside, and the cover may alsobe disposed conveniently on a lsuitable .buck for ironing. To reassemblethe device 10, the strips 38 are inserted into the tubular parts 38through the holes 39, until the heads 40 register with the holes 41. Theclosed end of the cover prevents accidental removal of the strips 38 andalso closes the openings 39. Now the foundation bag may be inserted intothe cover and then the braid 42 interlaced with the cover and knotted at46. The steps referred to may be varied or reversed as preferred. It maybe noted that the braid element 42 may in itself sumce to secure thecover on the foundation bag, by engaging the latter at 2l, and by reasonof the tensioning engagement of the cover and bag. caused by suitablytightening the braid. However, the most desirable results are obtainedby utilizing in addition the stiffener strips and snap fastener elementsreferred to.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may bemade in the device as shown in the drawing, and that thesame issubmitted in-an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, ,the scope ofthe invention being defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A handbag including a foundation bag having a top opening, a coverfor the bag including side walls interconnected along the bottom and anend thereof and affording a top opening in register with the bagopening, said cover walls being separate of each other at the opositeend thereof and having holes therethrough at said end, said foundationbag having holes in register with certain of the holes of the cover, anda flexible element extending continuously removably through the severalholes of the cover walls and through the registering cover and bag holesto close the cover at said end and to secure the cover to the bag, saidelement having its ends releasably secured, as and for the purpose setforth.

2. A handbag comprising a foundation bag and a cover therefor, saidcover being closed along two adjoining edges and being open along theremaining edges, the foundation bag having an opening in register withone of the openings of the cover, the other opening of the cover beingat an end of the foundation bag, the cover having side walls projectingbeyond said end of the foundation bag, and means for releasablyinterengaging said projecting ends of the cover walls to close thecorresponding opening of the cover, said means including a tie elementand holes in Il the projecting ends of the side walls through which thetie element is interlaced, and the side walls having other holes in acorner thereof adjacent to the permanent opening of the cover and theinterlaced end thereof but spaced inward of the latter, the bag having.holes in register with the last mentioned holes, and the elementextending operatively through the registering holes to secure the coverto the bag.

3. A washable cover for a handbag, said cover having an opening forreceiving a handbag, said cover having a tubular hem along said opening,said tubular hem having an opening, a stilening strip removably insertedinto the tubular hem through the opening thereof, said strip having afastener element, said tubular hem having a hole through which thefastener element is releasably engageable with a handbag to snuglyretain the cover against the handbag.

4. A handbag including a foundation bag and a removable cover therefor,said cover being closed along two adjacent sides thereof and beingadapted to be open along the remaining two adjacent sides thereof, saidbag and cover having registering holes, and means removably passingthrough said holes for securing the cover to the bag, and said coverhaving opposed walls provided with other registering holes at an openingthereof, and said means being a. eri lacing that also passes through thelast mentione oles to close said cover opening. RUDOLPH LOBEL. i

